Cockfosters station development (2)

Susan Hall: Will you attend a public meeting in Barnet to hear the views of residents on your plans to build over the London Underground station car park at Cockfosters?

The Mayor: I am satisfied that Transport for London (TfL) has allowed for transparent and robust public consultation on all its proposals and planning applications, including at Cockfosters.
TfL has worked extensively with the community and London Borough of Enfield to develop its plans for Cockfosters. Following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown, TfL has been working closely with not only Enfield, but boroughs across London to supplement its statutory consultation obligations. This has included providing additional communications, utilising online tools and arranging virtual meetings. Where necessary, TfL has readily agreed to extend planning timetables to ensure local people have sufficient opportunity to scrutinise plans and make representations.

TfL Income (1)

Navin Shah: What estimates have TfL made regarding the loss of income due to the suspension of a) the congestion charge b) the ULEZ and c) the LEZ?

The Mayor: From 23 March, Transport for London (TfL) temporarilysuspended the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone and Low Emission Zone. This was to ensure London's critical workers, particularly those in the NHS, were able to travel around London as easily as possible during this national emergency. These schemes were reinstated from 18 May.
TfL estimates the loss of income from suspending the road user charging schemes to be:
Road User Charging Scheme
Estimated loss of income from 23 March to 17 May
Congestion Charge
c.£14m
Ultra Low Emission Zone
c.£7.5m
Low Emission Zone
c.£0.5m
Total
c.£22m

Removal of free travel for under 18 year olds

Caroline Pidgeon: The removal of free travel for under 18 year olds, but with some children provided with separate passes to ensure their statutory entitlement to free travel to school is maintained, could potentially lead to more time being taken by children in boarding buses, if the new passes have to be checked by bus drivers. What assessment has been undertaken of the impact of these changes on boarding times and the potential increase in the time that other passengers will have to spend on buses?

The Mayor: The proposal to temporarily remove free travel for under 18s formed part of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) funding agreement with Government. TfL is investigating all issues that need to be taken into account when considering the possible options to deliver this requirement, andalwaysseeksto minimise any detrimental impact to its customers and its operations.
The emergency funding deal was the only one offered by the Government, but it is not the one the Mayor wanted. The Mayor has been clear that he opposes the suspension of free travel for under 18 year olds, and has urged the Transport Secretary to drop this requirement.

"Review into coronavirus infections and deaths among bus workers"; commissioned by TfL from UCL Institute of Health Equity (2)

Keith Prince: In your response to Question 2020/1511, you state that 43 London Transport Workers have died. What reason can you provide for this review being restricted to 33 Bus Drivers?

The Mayor: The research that Transport for London (TfL) commissioned from the UCL Institute of Health Equity was particularly focused on the bus driver community. This is because initial analysis and data suggested that there may be a disproportionate impact on mortality due to coronavirus in this occupational group. It was therefore felt to be important to understand the possible reasons for this. All findings will nevertheless be considered in light of improving safety more generally across all of TfL operations.

TfL Testing

Susan Hall: Have any TfL staff (or their family members) been referred for a coronavirus test under the employer referral scheme, announced in late April - and if so, how many?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) welcomed the opening of testing to its critical employees, and has been working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to make full use of all opportunities for testing. This included access via the pilot portal in the initial opening period and referring employees via the self-referral portal, which subsequently replaced the original portal.
Due to delays in the employer portal being set up by the Department for Health & Social Care, there was only a seven-day period when TfL had access to the employer referral scheme as the sole route for referrals. This was between 7 May and 14 May.TfL Two TfL employees were referred for the antigen test during this period.
After 14 May, the employer referral scheme ran in parallel with the self-referral option and employees have the choice of which route they access. TfL has been promoting the employer referral scheme through widespread staff communication channels and guidance to line managers, as well as briefing of senior managers. It continues to flag the benefits of testing with staff and is working alongside the Government on opportunities to further improve access to tests. To date, to total of 11 employees have been referred through this route.
As self-referral tests are co-ordinated directly with the Department for Health & Social Care, employees don’t have to input their organisation when submitting their request, only the sector they work for TfL does not therefore hold data for the number of employees who have accessed tests in this way.